“Perhaps,” Jimmie suggested, “they’re looking for an aeroplane to put in an appearance.”
“Do you mean to say that they knew something of the machine that was wrecked over to the south last night?”
“That’s what!” replied Jimmie.
“I don’t believe it!” Carl answered. “That supposition connects the San Francisco hunters with the Kuro gang, and I can’t believe that to be a fact!”
“How far do you suppose that canyon is from our camp?” asked Jimmie.
“Probably twenty miles!” suggested Carl.
“That’s a good guess,” Jimmie agreed. “Now, look here,” he went on, “if you think I’m going back to camp and leave the machine and then hike twenty miles to investigate that camp, you’ve got another think coming!”
“That’s what you promised to do!”
“Not on your life!” replied Jimmie. “That’s what Havens told me to do! But then, you know,” he added with a laugh, “Havens had no idea at the time he gave the advice that we’d find the camp so far away. He probably thought we’d run across it within easy walking distance of our own tents. Isn’t that the way you look at it?”
“Sure!” replied Carl, glad of any excuse for landing.